The Big Picture: Europe’s unmanned combat drone concept
Pictured above, a mechanic works on the the fusilage of Neuron, an unmanned stealth drone developed by a group of European nations, led by the French. “nEUROn” is a working concept for an “Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle” and includes fuselage designed by SAAB, Sweden. The craft has a 41 ft wingspan, weighs 10,000 lb when empty and can carry two 500 lb bombs. It first launched in December 2012, and has since completed 50 test flights — the most recent completed this month. The project won’t result in commercial production, instead serving to prove various technologies needed to for the next-generation of combat aircraft on the continent.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Transportation
Iran throws tech bloggers in prison for working with ‘enemy media’
Most countries with internet access see the web as a tool for communication. But in Iran? It’s a threat. The country has made a habit of censoring social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram — lifting its ban only for odd “technical failures.” Now the country seems to be arresting local tech bloggers. The state is accusing eight bloggers from the Iranian site Narenji (now offline) of having ties to “enemy media” and plotting a “‘soft overthrow’ of the Iranian regime.” Specifically, the group is accused of receiving funding from British intelligence and conducting espionage for BBC Persian. According to Mashable, the team is facing sentences between 18 months and 11 years in prison, or 36 years between them all.
Sources close to the detainees have told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Narenji was never involved in any activism, explaining instead that the nature of their work required them to be in “constant contact with the world outside.” The crack down is particularly disturbing to Iranians who voted for president Hassan Rouhani, who’s campaign suggested his election might lax the country’s notoriously harsh internet restrictions. Unfortunately Rouhani seems to have little sway over the conservative contingent that manages Iran’s Cyber Police and Revolutionary Guard. In reality, it’s all too likely that Narenji staff are being used as pawns in a larger political game.
Filed under: Internet
National parks will soon ban most drone flights
While we’ve already seen a few US national parks clamp down on drones in their airspace, it now looks like that no-fly rule is about to extend across the country. The National Park Service tells the Associated Press that it’s about to order all 401 of its parks to ban unfettered use of drones on their grounds. Each park will have exceptions for high-altitude flyers, hobbyist clubs, researchers and rescuers, but you won’t get to lug your personal camera drone around purely for the sake of remote sightseeing. If all goes according to plan, the Service will also have a preliminary national rule drafted within 18 months.
Service director Jonathan Jarvis argues that it’s important to draw this line in the sand before things get out of control. Besides concerns about spooking wildlife, there are worries about the safety of rock climbers and others on dangerous expeditions. The last thing you need on a challenging ascent is an unmanned craft in your face, after all. As much as we like drones, it’s hard to object to rules that let park guests focus on nature’s majesty instead of vehicles buzzing overhead.
[Background image credit: Eric Leslie, Flickr]
Filed under: Robots
Via: The Verge
Source: Associated Press
SEGA places Seven Sonic the Hedgehog Games on Sale for $0.99
I am sure some of you have been bank rolling your Google Opinion Rewards bucks for a couple of month by now. I know I am almost at $8 currently. Picking up apps and games when they are on sale is one of the best uses for that free cash in my opinion and right now SEGA of America might just snake some of that money from you today. They have just dropped the price tag on seven Sonic the Hedgehog titles, which looks to be every single one of them.
It is hard to pass up the classics for under a buck. Many of you might already have some of them, why not fill in the blanks. The titles, and the links, are as follows:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Sonic 4 Episode I
- Sonic 4 Episode II
- Sonic CD
- Sonic Jump
- Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
Additionally, Sonic 4 Episode II THD (Tegra optimized version) is also showing up for $0.99, but I am not entirely sure it is on sale or if that has been the price for a while since it isn’t showing up in the AppSales App.
If you pick up all 7 games, you will be looking to spend $6.93. That is a savings of $15 over the full retail price tag. We cruised over to the SEGA blog but aren’t seeing any particular reason for the sale from them, nor do any of the game descriptions offer up any clues. Seeing as we aren’t sure what SEGA is up to, you should probably go grab the ones you want before they go back to full price, whenever that might be.
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Google Search for Artist :inks to Your Other Music Apps Now
Using Google Search to search for anything on your mind at that given moment certainly makes life a whole heck of a lot easier. Google is always adding in new features and options that are handled seamlessly through their search application without the need for updating the app. That alone is pretty spiffy if you ask me. One of the more recent additions to search comes in the way of a better way to listen to an artist or band instantly.
As of yesterday, you can now search out an artist or band in search and be presented with direct link access to them in your favorite music apps. Well, some of the popular ones at least and only if you have that app installed on your device. The currently supported apps are TuneIn, Spotify, iHeartRadio and Rdio. Google Play and YouTube are there too of course.
The new music links are currently up and running and are only available in U.S.. However, Google is working to expand the feature world-wide with other local services like Deezer.
This little addition sure makes finding tunes a lot easier and if you happen to be with T-Mobile, you will notice some of those apps also are part of their no data counting streaming addition that were announced in the Uncarrier 6 announcement.
Via Googleblog
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Google now offers links to music apps when you search for bands on Android
Google is making it a little bit easier to start listening to musicians you’re researching. If you search for a band on Android the results will now show quick links to the artist’s page in your music apps. So, lets say someone suggests you check out Kvelertak (which we can tell you is excellent advice). Now when you Google the Norwegian metal band you can simply tap on the Spotify link to start listening immediately. Or, if you’re a big fan of music videos, you can quickly launch YouTube after searching for Solange. Right now the feature is limited to the US, but it does work with a broad range of apps, including Rdio, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, YouTube, Spotify and Google Play. Other countries and services like Deezer will be added in the future.
Source: Google
GoPro cameras show what it’s like to endure a terrifying car crash
GoPro is trying to build a media empire by capturing moments that other video cameras sometimes miss, and it just might achieve that feat if its latest (and arguably most dramatic) footage is any indication. The company mounted its action cams in the car of Guerlain Chicherit hoping to catch a record-setting jump, but instead caught what it’s like to survive a horrifying crash. The clip is cringe-inducing, even if you’ve seen your fair share of in-car replays — Chicherit can’t do much more than prepare for the worst as his modified Mini tumbles end over end. He thankfully escaped with minor injuries, but the resulting movie is an especially stark reminder of just why stunt driving is so dangerous.
Filed under: Cameras, Transportation, Internet
Via: Huffington Post
Source: GoPro (YouTube)
Patriot Memory’s New FUEL iON Aims to Make Wireless Charging Faster and Easier
You might think Patriot Memory only has their hands in PC RAM and other computer related hardware. They have, however, been working diligently to break into the mobile space with a variety of accessories that bring consumers the same quality and exceptional performance that they are known for in the PC industry. We have had the pleasure of working with them to help introduce some of their mobile geared products since CES 2014. We showed you guys their killer Patriot FUEL+ battery banks and the Patriot 64GB USB 3.0 microUSB thumb drive. The team at Patriot has been hard at work to bring another product to market that might just change how you wirelessly charge your device. The most recent line of products keeps the Fuel branding going with the FUEL iON magnetic charging system.
At launch, coming in July of this year, will include a case and the charging stand you see above. Initially it will launch for the iPhone 5/5s and the Samsung Galaxy S4, but other device cases are in the works already and we hope to see the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 in due time. It is all pretty simple and easy to use. You set your phone in the case, click the connector into your device and you are good to go to place it on the charging stand. Patriot says the charge rates have a 99% charging efficiency, basically charging your device at just about the same speed as if it was physically plugged into the wall.
Both the iPhone 5/5s and Galaxy S4 kits will be $79.99. That includes the necessary case and the stand. To complete the system you can also pick up two addition charging accessories though. They will have a small FUEL iON Charge Pad, which is like a small hockey puck charge pad and a car mount for in use in your vehicle. The pictures look cool, but seeing it in a video doesn’t hurt. Check out the little video Patriot put together about the whole line.
I think it has a lot of potential. If it can charge at damn near full rates it would certainly be worth it. As I said earlier, the Patriot FUEL iON case and stand kit is scheduled for a release coming up in July. As soon as they are available we will be sure to let you guys know. Until then, what do you think?
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Google brings ‘Supervised Users’ setting to Chrome OS
If you are a parent and utilize a Chromebook in your home, then chances are your kids use it too. I have a 13-year-old and keeping her safe and away from things she doesn’t need to be doing online is a daunting task. If you have handed over the Chromebook you can block things through the router, but if you share it then you don’t want to be restricted. Finally there is another option for parents out there that Google has recently added to the Chrome OS, Supervised Users.
This snazzy little option can be enabled through the primary user account and gives parents a ton of control over Chromebooks and Chromebox devices. A supervised user doesn’t need a Google account or even an email address in order to use the Chrome OS. You as the account holder can follow a few simple little steps to create a supervised user and have control over what that users can access, view and even check back on the browsing history.
To get started you will want to head to your Chrome Settings. While you are at it, you might want to check out the Google support pages about it all too.
Source: +FrancoisBeaufort Via 9to5Google
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Google Now learns a new quick links trick when you perform a music search
Google Now keeps on moving forward, adding in new features all the time. This time they’ve added a small, but a nifty one.
If you decide to search for music of some kind, Google will (as it did thus far) show you the results of your search. However, from now on it will offer you quick links to listen directly via your favorite music apps. This is quite convenient considering it’s skipping a few steps this way, you don’t have to open those apps manually in order to listen the music you’ve searched for.
As we said, this is just a small addition to the service, but a very useful one. We hope Google will keep on adding features like this in the future like they did thus far.
Source: Twitter (Google)
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